Chapter 1

Spouse - A man or woman who is married

Page 9

Most of the people on the night crew had not even been given spouses because they lacked, somehow, the essential capacity to connect to others, which was required for the creation of a family unit.

Chapter 2

Aptitude - A natural ability or talent

Page 16

"Well, it was clear to me - and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too - what my aptitude was."

Chapter 3

chastisement - to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)

Page 20

Lily, he decided, would have to learn that soon, or she would be called in for chastisement because of her insensitive chatter.



Chapter 4

Bypass- A passage from one side to another.

Page 26

There was no doubt that Benjamin would receive his Assignment to that field and would probably be permitted to bypass most of the training.

Chapter 5

Dwelling- a shelter (as a house) in which people live

Page 35

He waved to Father and Lily as they left the dwelling, carrying Gabe in his basket.

Chapter 6

Relinquish - to withdraw or retreat from

Page 41

Each family member, including Lily, had been required to sign a pledge that they would not become attached to this little temporary guest, and that they would relinquish him without protest or appeal when he were assigned to his own family unit at next year's Ceremony.

Chapter 7

Precision - the quality or state of being precise

Page 53

And precision of language was one of the most important task of small children.

Chapter 8

Integrity- the quality or state of being complete or undivided

Page 59

" Integrity," she said next.

Chapter 9

Exempted - to make exempt

Page 65

3. From this moment you are exempted from rules governing rudeness.

Chapter 10

Conspicuous - attracting attention :striking

Page 71

But the most conspicuous difference was the books.

Chapter 11

Perceived - to become aware of through the senses and especially through sight

Page 78

Beyond, through the swirl of what he now, somehow, perceived was the thing the old man had spoken of - snow - he could look out and down a great distance.

Chapter 12

Capacity - the ability to hold or contain

Page 88

" When I was observing you, before the selection, I perceived that you probably had the capacity, and what you describe confirms that."

Chapter 13

Access - permission or power to enter

Page 97

"You and I are the only ones with access to the books."

Chapter 14

Excruciating - causing great mental or physical pain

Page 105

"Why?" Jonas asked him after he had received a torturous memory in which he had been neglected and unfed; the hunger had cause excruciating spasms in his empty, distended stomach.

Chapter 15

Anguish - extreme pain or distress of body or mind

Page 112

"Put your hands on me," he directed, aware that in suck anguish The Giver might need reminding.

Chapter 16

Obsolete - no longer in use

Page 120

" Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete," his mother explained carefully.

Chapter 17

Overwhelmed - to overpower in thought or feeling


Page 128

Jonas trudged to the bench beside the Storehouse and sat down, overwhelmed with feelings of loss.

Chapter 18 - 19



Chapter 20

emphatically - tending to express oneself in forceful speech or to take decisive action

Page 148

Jonas shook his head emphatically.

Chapter 21

meticulously - marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details

Page 153

All of it all the things they had thought through so meticulously fell apart.